I. ˈkaptə̇n, rapid or before a name sometimes -p ə m noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English capitane, captein, from Middle French capitaine, capitain, from Late Latin capitaneus foremost, chief, from Latin capit-, caput head — more at head
1. : a person having authority over and responsibility for a group or unit : chief , leader : as
a. : the commander of a body of troops or of a military establishment (as a fortress)
b. : an officer entrusted with a command under a sovereign or general
c. : a ranking naval or maritime officer:
(1) : an officer in charge of a warship
(2) : an officer in charge of any ship and responsible for its navigation and for direction of its operations regardless of official rank — often used as a courtesy title
(3) : a senior naval officer ranking just below a rear admiral or commodore and above a commander
d. : an army, marine, or air-force officer ranking below a major and above a first lieutenant
e. : a distinguished or highly skilled military leader
f. chiefly England : a mine superintendent or manager
g. obsolete : an Indian chief
h. chiefly England : a leader of a student group : head boy
i. : a leader in charge of the personnel of a train, caravan, or airplane: as
(1) : a railroad conductor in charge of a freight or passenger train
(2) : a pilot of a plane in flight ; especially : a pilot of an air-force plane
j. : a leader of a side or team in a sports contest or similar activity
k. : a fire or police department officer usually ranking between a chief and a lieutenant
l. : a party officer charged with organizing voters in a ward, precinct, or electoral district
m.
(1) : a restaurant functionary in charge of waiters : headwaiter
(2) : a hotel functionary in charge of bellboys — called also bell captain
n. chiefly South : boss — sometimes used as a generalized term of respect
o. : a Salvation Army officer ranking above a first lieutenant and below a senior captain
p. : the player in chouette who plays against the man in the box — abbr. capt.
2. : a dominant figure : a person of importance and influence
captains of commerce
II. adjective
obsolete : chief , head
III. ˈkaptə̇n transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to be captain of : fill the role of captain of : lead